10 Affirmations for Chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-

mantra – Part 1
iskcon.com.au/eNews/10-affirmations/

By ISKCON Sydney Rising Moon 28/04/2020

(Adapted from ‘Japa Affirmations’ by H.G. Mahatma Das)

Ancient Vedic texts address the notion that no amount of material accomplishments can
deeply satisfy us. Our consciousness has been polluted by the material atmosphere, and as
we try to exploit resources, we are in fact getting more and more entangled in
complexities. Vedic wisdom attributes this condition to a lack of spiritual awareness.
These wisdom texts share with us that we are all spiritual beings and that we can elevate
our consciousness through chanting of the Holy Name. The Holy Name – chanting of the
Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is a direct process for
purifying our consciousness.

The Hare Krishna Maha-mantra is the sublime method for reviving our relationship with
the Supreme Lord, Krishna. Lord Krishna appeared in this world as Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu more than 500 years ago to spread the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-
mantra. For this age, nothing is as effective as chanting of the Holy Name. The Hare
Krishna Maha-mantra is a transcendental sound vibration which enacts directly from a
spiritual platform and enables us to recover our original spiritual identity. We may chant
this mantra with others (called kirtan) or in solitude (called japa). The words ‘Krishna’
and ‘Rama’ are addressing the Lord; Krishna refers to all attractive; Rama refers to
reservoir of pleasure; and ‘Hare’ is the energy with which we can reach the Lord.

Krishna’s Holy Name is Krishna Himself. Therefore, chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-
mantra creates an opportunity for us to associate with the Lord directly through the
transcendental sound vibration. For this reason, it is important for us to spend time
working on our internal attitude and motivation for chanting the Holy Name. In this
article, we will meditate on a specific practice to help improve and increase our presence
while chanting: the practice of affirmations.

An affirmation can be explained as a phrase repeated to oneself to start a task with a

favourable attitude. Examples include: “I wake up with gratitude and look forward to the
day” or “I am brave and I can accomplish this task”. Affirmations help to create a positive
mindset in order to achieve a desirable outcome. Saying affirmations out loud and
meditating on their core meanings before chanting the Maha-mantra may allow us to
further enhance our chanting experience. Select affirmations that may resonate with you
and try to meditate on these daily or weekly.

Below are 10 affirmations to help chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra more effectively:

1. I happily and enthusiastically welcome the Holy Name every japa session

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Create a positive mood to welcome the Holy Name, the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, into
your heart, just the way you would welcome a special guest into your home. This can be
achieved by reading scriptures, offering prayers, or meditating on what you wish to
achieve before chanting the Maha-mantra on the japa beads. In this way, by getting in the
right state of mind, chanting becomes an exciting opportunity to connect with the Lord
rather than as a chore.

2. I easily chant my prescribed number of rounds with focus and attention

Whether you are chanting one round, or sixteen rounds or more of the Maha-mantra,
start chanting with a natural inclination to focus your attention on the Holy name. In
other words, before chanting, believe that you will be able to focus on the Holy Name. The
mind has many thoughts and wavers here and there, but catch your mind and bring it
back to the Holy Name. When you consider chanting of the Holy Name to be very
important for your spiritual life, then it will be easier to chant with focus and attention.

3. When I chant, I chant

Create a quiet sacred space where you can chant the Maha-mantra without interruptions
or distractions. When you chant, do not do anything else, just chant. Put your internal
world on hold also and focus solely on yourself and Krishna.

4. I get to chant, I want to chant, and I love to chant

Remind yourself that you appreciate chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra and that
you view chanting as a special blessing instead of as a difficult task. It is a special
opportunity to get a human birth and to be able to awaken love for Krishna through
chanting. Ask yourself how you would feel if you were prevented from being able to chant
the Holy Name. Deep down in our hearts, we appreciate the powerful effects of chanting
the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra.

5. I treat the Maha-mantra as Radha and Krishna, fully present in sound

Treat the Holy Name, the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, as Radha and Krishna deities in
the form of sound. When you chant the Maha-mantra, it is the same as taking darshan of
the deities. In this way, bow down to the Holy Name as you would to the deities, as
Krishna is fully present in the Holy Name.

6. I receive and feel Krishna’s presence, mercy and love in His Holy Name

Allow mercy, love and blessings to come to you naturally through the Holy Name, rather
than seeking to force nectar out of the Holy Name. In other words, do not struggle to
create mercy and love while chanting but instead, allow yourself to bathe in and
appreciate the mercy and love that already exists within the Holy Name.

7. I chant in full awareness that the Holy Name is my greatest treasure

Give your heart to the Holy Name. Although Krishna has everything, He does not have
your heart and He hankers for it. Krishna wants to have a relationship with you and
chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra will revive your relationship with Him.

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Therefore, chanting the Holy Name is the greatest jewel in the Lord’s treasury as He gets
what He desires – your heart.

8. I chant to please Radha and Krishna, not to gain anything material

Imagine that Krishna is with you in His Holy name and that He is happy to hear you
chanting. Even though relishing the Holy Name can be difficult sometimes, Krishna is
enjoying seeing your determination to chant and to be purified. In this way, chant the
Maha-mantra to make Krishna happy and for yourself to feel happiness too.

9. I am out of my mind and in my heart, fully present to the Holy Name when I chant

Chant the Maha-mantra with your tongue and hear with your ear. Feeling the essence of
chanting will bring you into the present. Attentive chanting is hearing – if you hear
yourself chanting, you will chant attentively. When you chant, Krishna first dances on the
tongue, then the ear, then the heart.

10. I fully honour my sacred relationship with the Holy Name during japa

Be conscious that when chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, you are present,
Krishna is present and thus, a relationship between you and Krishna is also present.
Therefore, do not view chanting as a mechanical process that you have to complete daily
but rather as a way to deepen your relationship with Krishna.

The Holy Name is saying, “I am present here, my mercy is here, my love is here; please
receive it, please accept it, please feel it”. Nothing is impossible for Krishna and thus,
nothing is impossible for the one who takes shelter of the Holy Name. Krishna is in our
hearts and He is a genuine friend to all living beings. No matter what you go through, He
is always there. You are Krishna’s eternal servant and He will always remain the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Therefore, prioritize your spiritual life – you are not going to feel
emptiness when you experience real spiritual happiness. Just give your heart to the Holy
Name and Krishna will reciprocate. Fall in love with the Holy Name! Chant Hare Krishna
and be happy forever!

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